Double tapered steel post



Oct. 17, 1939. G. G. GREULICH DOUBLE TAPERED STEEL POST Original Filed July 25, 1936 [madamfiEEflLD Ci @EEUL/C farm/ Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT or ies Divided and this application May 6,

1938, Serial No. 206,493

1 Claim.

This invention relates to steel posts generally and particularly to such posts for highway guards.

The principal object of the invention is to make such a post in which the metal is distributed to provide the greatest stress resisting area at the critical point and also to secure a long life against corrosion.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the assembled post showing the double thickness at the ground line;

Figure 2 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line IIIIII of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on line V-V of Figure 1; and,

Figure 6 is a section on line VIVI of Figure 1.

In the drawing, the post comprises an upper section 2 and a lower section 4 arranged in overlapping relation to form, at the ground line, an intermediate reenforced section 5 to provide a double thickness of metal at the ground line area.

The upper section 2 comprises a conically shaped member, gradually tapered throughout its length to a point adjacent the ground line and provided with flanges 3. These flanges 3 extend from the uppermost or free end of the section and increase in width toward the ground line to form an increased outwardly flared flange width 3a. above and below the ground line.

The lower section 4 also comprises a cylindrically shaped member provided with flanges 8 of substantial width at the ground line, said flanges tapering downwardly from the ground line to coincide with the side walls 1 of the section 4 at a point below the ground line, as clearly indicated in Figure 2 of the drawing. Both of said sections are substantially U-shaped in crosssection. I

The sections 2 and 4 of the post, when positioned in overlapped relation with the increased flange areas 30. and 8 at the ground line, produce a unitary structure having the greatest area and thickness of metal at the ground line, thereby assuring longer life for the post against corrosion and strains. The upper section 2 tapers toward its other end to become a relatively smaller area at the top of the post where the least area is needed. The top section 2 is large enough to accommodate all types of rail or cable fastenings and is easily visible. The lower section 4 which tapers from the point where the flanges coincide with the side walls 1 toward its opposite end, facilitates driving of the post in the ground without distortion of the metal and with a minimum disturbance to the soil. The wide areas 9 of the lower section, being in contact with the ground, maintain the lateral soil pressures to a relatively low value under impact, while the piercing end ID, of the section d, is so shaped that it facilitates keeping the post in alignment during the driving action and keeps the force required for penetration of the soil to a minimum.

The upper section 2 is provided with the desired bolt hole openings I2 for securing a cable (not shown) to the post by means of any conventional fastening device.

While I have shown and described sections 2 and 4 of the post as being of conical and cylindrical shape, respectively, it is to be clearly understood that the sections may be of other shapes; such as, for example, multi-sided constructions in cross-section to produce a flat side for receiving the cable fastening means instead of the conical shape, as shown in the drawing. The sections may be rectangular, hexagonal or a five-sided construction.

It is, therefore, apparent that a post constructed in accordance with the present invention has considerable advantages] and design for use as a highway guard rail post, in that the greatest metal area and greatest thickness is at the ground line or point of greatest stress. Having the double thickness at the ground line assures longer life against corrosion.

The present application isa division of my original application, Serial No. 92,659, filed July 25, 1936, and issued as Patent No. 2,124,487 on July 19, 1938.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claim.

I claim:

A steel post comprising an upper cone-shaped member gradually tapering throughout its length, flanges extending throughout the length of said cone-shaped member, said flanges increasing in width toward the ground line to provide an increased flange width above and below the ground line, and a lower cylinder-shaped member, flanges on said cylinder-shaped member tapering downwardly from the ground line to coincide with the side walls of said cylinder-shaped member at a point below the ground line, said members providing a central reenforced section of double thickness of metal at the ground line and welded in overlapped position to provide the greatest area of metal adjacent the ground line of said post, each of said sections being substantially U-shaped in cross-section.

GERALD G. GREULICH. 

